Rope net assembly for table tennis



April 19, 1955 R. ASHMUS ROPE NET ASSEMBLY FOR TABLE TENNIS Filed June 29, 1951 FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent ROPE NET ASSEMBLY FOR TABLE TENNIS Robert Ashmus, Parrna, Ohio, assignor to Leonard S. Michelman, Springfield, Mass.

Application June 29, 1951, Serial No. 234,271

4 Claims. (Cl. 273-30) This invention relates to a support for a rope type net to be used in playing the game known as table tennis or ping-pong. It is concerned more particularly with a structure that enables maintenance of the net in the desired taut condition, irrespective of the varying widths of different makes of tables on which the net may be m stalled. This type of a net can neither sag nor tear and will endure for many years.

The conventional net is made of a mesh weave and has a tendency to lose its shape and eventually tear. It is an object of this invention to overcome this problem by a structure that is both adjustable, rigid, and tearproof. Not only is this device characterized by its simplicity and fewness of parts, compactness, and ease and economy of manufacture, but it is a unitary structure devoid of loose parts and can be easily secured to a table and operated without tools to take up any net slack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support for use at each end of the rope-net which will engage the rope and apply a resilient pull or tension thereon so that the rope will always be held with the proper degree of tautness across the table.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means whereby the tension imposed on the rope will be applied directly and longitudinally of the rope and W111 automatically take up any slack anywhere in the rope, thus compensating for variations in the length of the rope due to stretching, temperature, and other causes.

Generally, such structure comprises two L-shaped members at each side of the table with horizontal portions facing each other. Openings are spaced equally apart in the vertical portions and the rope 1s weaved through these openings to form a net. A spring 18 connected to the rope for maintaining it taut.

With the foregoing and other features and objects in view, the invention hereof will now be described in further detail with particular reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 depicts in perspective a pair of devices 1n netsupporting positions on opposite sides of the top of a table.

Figure 1a is a portion of the middle of the net showing a spacer member for the rope.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the support member fitted with pulleys.

Figure 3 is a side view of the opposite supporting member indicating the contrary arrangement of the opemngs.

Figure 4 is a modified arrangement of a portion of the face support showing a beveled opening instead of the pulley.

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the support member having a sleeve insert in the rope opening.

Figure 7 is a side view of Figure 6.

As illustrated in Figure 1, it is generally desirable to use a pair of the net-supporting members 2 in order to maintain the rope net 17 in the desired taut condition above the table 1 shown broken away. Each device, which may be constructed entirely of steel or its equivalent, is installed at the side edge portion of the table. The installation may be of any conventional manner; but because of the tension of the spring, it is preferred to insert a bolt 4 through the opening 12 in the lower portion thereof and through an opening in the table and then to lock same securely with a wing nut (not shown). Particularly those tables made of a thin plywood are best treated in this manner. Where the table is of a more 2,706,633 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 durable thickness, the use of wood screws would be adequate. In the instance of the bolt and nut, a hand drill bit would be included with the components to make it an easy matter for a layman to make the installation by drilling the opening in the table. It is very important that the supporting members of this invention be rigidly fastened to the table.

As noted in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the vertical portion of the L-shaped member contains a plurality of pulleys 3 which are so spaced that a table tennis ball is larger than the distance therebetween. At the opening 14 which is below the lowest pulley in one of the members, a rope segment 13 is tied or knotted as at 21. This segment is rather short and is connected by a clip 11, or tied to the spring 6. At the other end of the spring 6, which for purposes of this embodiment, is of the coil type, is connected the larger rope segment 17. This rope 17 passes through a pulley 3 in the other support member. These pulleys are mounted within openings 7. The first pulley through which the rope passes is preferred to be at the same level as the opening 14. In the event the pulley in the opposite member is constructed so as not to be at the same level as the opening, but is at the next level, the device will work. For the sake of clearance and appearance, however, it is preferred to keep the rope at as even a level as possible as it passes from member to member.

As can be better seen in Figure 1, the rope passes back and forth between the pulleys until it is at the top level wherein it passes from the top pulley on one of the members to an opening 16 on the other member which opening must be at the same height as the last mentioned pulley so that the top rope is perfectly level. The rope is knotted as at 22 on the outside of this openmg 16 and acts effectively to lock the rope under the tension of the spring 6. Should the rope stretch or the sprmg loosen so that the rope becomes slack, the knot can be moved to take up the slack. A clip means (not shown) can be used instead of the knot to perform this function, and in either event, will be referred to hereafter as a locking means.

In Figure la is shown the center portion of the net with a member 15 which can be made of cloth or mesh to decorate the net. It can be made of a more rigid material to act as a spacing member. The member 15 merely comprises a number of slits designated as 18 wherein the rope can weave in and out, and out and in. The spacer or member 15 is disclosed here as a short rectangular member but could be constructed and designed to cover the full distance between the supporting members 2 and would in no way change the contemplation and scope of this invention. Where this member would be constructed of mesh, it would take on the appearance of the conventional mesh type of net.

Figures 4 and 5 show a different embodiment of the invention wherein instead of pulleys, smoothly beveled openings 18 are employed in the vertical portions 2 of the supporting members. It is to be noted that the surfaces 8 are smoothly beveled to offer the least resistance to the rope as it passes through. There are no sharp surfaces and there 'is accordingly no danger of the rope being cut. In addition to these results, the pull of the spring will be more constant throughout the entire rope, maintaining it taut at all times.

Figures 6 and 7 show still a different embodiment wherein sleeves 10 are inserted in openings 19 of the vertical portion 2 of the supporting member. These sleeves have neck portions 9 which are rounded off as they are stamped into the opening by a machine. The function performed by these sleeves or grommets so called is similar to that mentioned with respect to the beveled opening. The use of the grommet saves the step of smoothly finishing off the drilled opening and may cut down the cost of manufacture in certain cases. In this instance, the rope will pass easily through the grommets without friction and without the effect of cutting. It is preferred that these grommets be of brass or copper, but any equivalent, even a hard plastic, will do.

The height of the supporting members is the same as that employed in the conventional net so that the height of the top rope will meet the requirements of the rules of table tennis.

The spring 6 which is shown as a coil type can be modified to be connected to a hook on the table. It can also be done away with by the use of a lastex type rope wherein the proper locking of the rope to the supporting member would make the rope sufiiciently taut.

It is to be added that the pulley arrangement of Figures 1, 2, and 3 has proved to be most efficient in operation since the pull of the spring on the rope is in no way impeded, and yet the rope takes no punishment from the contacting surfaces.

The thickness of the rope has been found after much experimentation to be about that size used on Venetian blinds. It is not critical to the invention and other thicknesses may be employed.

The material of the rope used with the spring is also not critical in so long as it has a durable characteristic and is neat in appearance. If the lastex rope is used instead of the spring and rope, it should be of a rayon or nylon compound.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise arrangement of parts shown and described, as detail of construction may be modified and rearranged without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A net assembly for table tennis comprising a pair of supporting members mounted on a top of a tennis table, two segments of a rope means, and an elongated spring means, a row of pulleys mounted within opening means in the vertical portion of said supporting members and spaced apart less than the diameter of a table tennis ball, an opening at the lower portion of one of said members beneath the pulleys, a means for locking the first segment of rope to a supporting member in the lowest opening, said segment being connected to one end of the spring, said other segment of the rope means being tied to the other end of the spring and passing about each of said pulleys back and forth alternately from each supporting member, an opening above the pulley at the top of one of the supporting members and at the same level as the pulley at the top of the other supporting member, means for locking said rope at said opening whereby the tension of the spring will maintain the rope segments taut and provide a rigid and level rope net.

2. A rope-net holding assembly for table tennis and the like, a pair of L-shaped members supported by their horizontal portions on the top of a tennis table, the vertical portions having therein a plurality of apertures spaced apart from each other a distance less than the diameter of a table tennis ball, a short segment of rope, having a first end and a second end, means for attaching the first end of said short segment of rope to the lowest aperture of one of the L-shaped members, an elongated spring having a first end and a second end, means for connecting the second end of said short segment of rope to the first end of said elongated spring, a long segment of rope having a first end and a second end, said first end of said long segment of rope connected to said second end of said elongated spring, said long segment of rope passing back and forth between the apertures of said members and having its second end rigidly fastened at the top to one of said members, whereby the said ropes and spring form a rigid net between the two members.

3. A net assembly for table tennis as recited inclaim 2 wherein a sleeve having opposite and smooth neck portions is inserted within the apertures, said neck portions locking the sleeve within the aperture.

4. A net assembly for table tennis as recited in claim 2 wherein said apertures are beveled to provide smooth surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 20,362 Noble May 25, 1858 66,350 Ingersoll July 2, 1867 198,892 Magers Jan. 1, 1878 465,024 Kraber Dec. 15, 1891 1,322,754 Blair Nov. 25, 1919 1,520,082 Purnell Dec. 23, 1924 2,004,397 Sloan June 11, 1935 2,404,693 Clark July 23, 1946 2,470,318 Nadelson May 17, 1949 2,509,666 Armstrong May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,705 Great Britain of 1901 422,039 France of 1911 

